The Division; Hitman: Episode One; Alekhine's Gun, gaming reviews

A lacklustre story suddenly takes off when you enter the Dark Zone

The Division introduces players to a mid-crisis New York, cordoned off from the world after a bio-chemical terrorist attack

The Division

****

PS4/Xbox One/PC (£49.99)

Ubisoft's latest third person shooter introduces players to a mid-crisis New York, cordoned off from the world after a bio-chemical terrorist attack was unleashed. The city's only hope is a group of "everyday citizens" – the titular Division. What ensues is a lacklustre story, not helped by bland and repetitive missions and characters. But, the moment your character can enter the player vs player area – the Dark Zone – everything takes off. You don't know who you can trust; comrades turn into enemies, enemies may be friends. Some of these multiplayer moments are genuinely breathtaking and are what makes The Division so special. Jack Shepherd

Hitman: Episode One

*****

PS4/Xbox One/PC (£11.99)

Hitman's barcoded hero is back, unflappable and cool and now starring in a goodlooking episodic game that looks set to roll on for some months. This first captivating instalment recreates the splendour of Paris and has you thinking up all manner of ways to eliminate your target while eavesdropping, subduing victims and collecting ever more effective weapons. It may only have a single map but its size and the variety of ways of making your "kill" more than makes up for it. There are also two fun training modes, one of which makes use of an ejection button for the most explosive of effects. David Crookes

Alekhine's Gun

**

PS4, Xbox One, PC (£32.99)

This is a third-person stealth assassination game, like Hitman. Here the similarities end though as Alekhine's Gun is one of the ugliest games in recent years, with a stuttering frame rate to match. The gameplay is rudimentary and repeated character models and easily exploitable mechanics break the player's immersion in the world. Hardcore stealth fans might be able to see past its problems. Jack Turner